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  • Measuring Success

    Book Chapter |

    The true purpose of this activity is to introduce students to a five-step EDP (engineering design process). In this chapter, second graders design, build, test, and improve tools to map a waterway, and the design…

  • Think It, Design It, Build It, Test It, Refine It

    Book Chapter |

    In this chapter, a unit on water quality ends with a water filtration engineering design activity and was a win-win situation. Students were already very curious to learn about water filtration after their study of…

  • Community-Based Engineering

    Book Chapter |

    A design task helps students identify and find solutions to a school-yard problem. A module was conducted in four 90-minute sessions. Session 1, Preview module and introduce engineering with a warm-up design; Session 2…

  • Engineer It, Learn It

    Book Chapter |

    This chapter shows how science and engineering practices can be integrated into the elementary classroom by providing snapshots of activities from a STEM curriculum unit. The unit, focused on aerospace engineering,…

  • Designing a Sound-Reducing Wall

    Book Chapter |

    In this chapter, students explore engineering with a fun challenge. To help students better understand sound in a fun and engaging way, an engineering design–based science learning activity was conducted that is…

  • Blade Structure and Wind Turbine Function

    Book Chapter |

    In this chapter, third and fifth graders co-investigate and co-design wind turbine blades and voltage output. The wind turbine lessons featured emerged from the desire to help students build on their learning about…

  • You and Your Students as Green Engineers

    Book Chapter |

    In this chapter, using creativity and everyday materials to design and improve a solar oven highlights one teacher’s journey with her fifth-grade students as they embarked on an engineering adventure together. In this…

  • Smashing Milk Cartons

    Book Chapter |

    In this chapter, third-grade students solve a real-world problem using the engineering design process, collaborative group work, and integrated STEM education. By introducing students to the ideas of recycling and…

  • Creating a Prosthetic Hand

    Book Chapter |

    This chapter explores how one teacher employed 3-D printing technology with fourth-grade students in a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) lab to design and create a prosthetic hand. This…

  • Gliding Into Understanding

    Book Chapter |

    In this chapter, a paper airplane investigation highlights scientific and engineering practices. The investigation relates to students’ personal experiences and interests and cultivates enthusiasm by allowing students…

  • A System of Systems

    Book Chapter |

    This chapter features a STEM investigation project for intermediate students with real-life connections. The goals for this unit were to help the students understand systems and system models in real-world contexts and…

  • Blasting Off With Engineering

    Book Chapter |

    In this chapter, toy testing creatively engages fifth-grade students in engineering design. This toy rocket unit engaged fifth-grade students in an engineering design process that allowed them to integrate engineering,…

  • SCAMPERing Into Engineering!

    Book Chapter |

    A “Snapshot of Science” Program brings science and engineering into the library. The lesson described here is part of what we like to call a “Snapshots of Science” program. These mini-lessons of science are taught once…

  • Wacky Weather

    Book Chapter |

    An integrative science unit combines science content on severe weather with the engineering design process (EDP). The purpose of this unit is to interweave science content on severe weather with the EDP. The unit…

  • Straw Rockets Are Out of This World

    Book Chapter |

    This chapter features STEM activities for upper-elementary students. This lesson gives students the opportunity to experience the joys and challenges of developing straw rockets and then observing which design can…

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